BBL|07 Season Review: The Batters

With the BBL season done and dusted for another summer, we take a look at the efforts of our batting contingent who donned the purple at least once this tournament...

George Bailey

The Stats:

Batting/Fielding:

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

High Score

Catches

12

11

202

18.36

113.54

46

8

Review:

The Hurricanes captain played an instrumental role in steering the club to its first BBL final campaign since BBL03, leading the side in his typically innovative and inspiring way.

As he has made habit across the duration of his distinguished career, Bailey impressed in the field, taking eight catches, the equal most for the tournament.

Bailey finished the year in some impressive form with the bat, hitting three scores of 32 or more in his final four innings.

A swashbuckling 20-ball knock of 32 helped the Hurricanes post a defendable total after an unsteady start against the Melbourne Stars, while his season high 46 in the final was part of an 81-run stand with D’Arcy Short that got the Hurricanes off a promising start in pursuit of an imposing total of 202.

BBL|07 Highlight:

Despite some fireworks with the bat, Bailey's freakish catch in Launceston, the first BBL catch at the University of Tasmania Stadium, is a hard effort to look past.

Bailey’s superhuman effort to reel in a one-handed screamer against the Sydney Thunder earned him the title of ‘purple superman’ from commentator Mark Howard, a title he more than lived up to for the remainder of the tournament with a series of typically athletic efforts in the field.

WATCH: Bailey's one-handed screamer rocks Launceston

Alex Doolan

The Stats:

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

Highest Score

50s

8

8

186

26.57

115.53

70

1

Review:

Doolan made the most of his opportunity as D'Arcy Short's opening partner early in the tournament, stringing together a series of starts that helped the Hurricanes to get off the mark in impressive fashion. With three scores of 26 or over, Doolan was allowed to play his natural, stylish game and form an opening 'odd couple' with Short utilizing his aggressive approach at the other end of the ground. A concussion suffered during his maiden BBL half-century against the Strikers hampered the remainder of his campaign after playing the opening eight matches.

BBL|07 Highlight:

After Alex Carey struck a century and Jake Weatherald 65, the Hurricanes were set a difficult target of 188 for victory by the Strikers at the Adelaide Oval in January, and although the Hurricanes fell short by 11 runs, Doolan ensured the Hurricanes took it right up to the eventual champions, with a gritty 70 that included three sixes off one Rashid Khan over, and his last 44 runs coming off just 25 balls.

WATCH: Doolan registers maiden BBL half-century

Ben McDermott

The Stats:

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

Highest Score

50s

12

12

325

36.11

138.30

67

1

Review:

McDermott rode the wave of momentum he finished last tournament with into this one, scoring 325 runs across the campaign. Despite only scoring the one half-century McDermott was a consistent feature of the Hurricanes middle order, using his big hitting ability to accelerate the side to big totals. McDermott's work in the Hurricanes batting line-up also earned him acknowledgement by Tasmanian and Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who named him in his 'BBL|07 Team of the Tournament'.

BBL|07 Highlight:

McDermott took the Perth Scorchers to the sword in the semi-final, striking four boundaries and six sixes on his way to a 30-ball knock of 67. The 23-year-old's clean hitting was reminiscent of his record century against the Melbourne Renegades a year earlier, with this knock propelling the Hurricanes to a massive total, and a place in the BBL|07 final.

WATCH: McDermott's monster 50 burns Scorchers

Tim Paine

The Stats:

Batting/Wicketkeeping:

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

Highest Score

Catches

2

2

9

4.50

81.82

5

2

Review:

Fresh off a memorable summer in the baggy green, Paine only returned to the Hurricanes for the final two matches of the tournament. Although he missed out with the bat he kept without fault in the Hurricanes' stirring semi-final defeat of the Perth Scorchers and in the final loss to the Adelaide Strikers.

BBL|07 Highlight:

Paine may have only played the two matches for the Hurricanes, but taking two catches in the rampant victory over the Perth Scorchers, including the catch to hand Riley Meredith his first BBL wicket, ensured the Hurricanes advanced to the BBL final for just the second time.

WATCH: Hurricanes rip through the Scorchers

Nathan Reardon

The Stats:

Batting:

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

Highest Score

3

1

32

32

145.45

32

Review:

Brought into the Hurricanes squad as a late replacement for James Bazley, Reardon managed to work his way into the side towards the end of the campaign, but only had one innings with bat in hand, largely thanks to the quality performances of the Hurricanes’ top order.

The former Heat, Renegades and Strikers player, now 33, could not have done much more with the one opportunity he had in the middle, hammering a quick fire 22-ball knock of 32 against the Melbourne Stars, combining with Dan Christian for the biggest sixth-wicket partnership of the tournament.

BBL|07 Highlight:

Reardon's explosive innings against the Melbourne Stars contained two fours and two sixes as the Hurricanes steadied after losing crucial wickets.

WATCH: Reardon launches at the MCG

Matthew Wade

The Stats:

Batting/Wicketkeeping:

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

Strike Rate

Not Outs

Highest Score

Not Outs

Catches

12

11

251

27.89

137.16

2

71

1

5

Review:

Wade made the most of his first season as a Hurricane, becoming the side's third highest run scorer with 251. Wade continually struck the ball well and was rewarded for a series of starts with an impressive half-century at the top of the order against the Scorchers in the semi-final. With the gloves, Wade barely put a foot wrong, keeping tidily and working as an additional fielder with several crafty run outs.

BBL|07 Highlight:

Wade hit the ground running in the semi-final against the Scorchers, striking 10 boundaries and a six on his way to a breathtaking 45-ball 71. Wade batted with dare and courage at the top of the order, setting the wheels in motion for one of the Hurricanes' most memorable days.

WATCH: Wade shines in the west

Stay tuned for our bowling and all-rounder season reviews - including the likes of D'Arcy Short, Simon Milenko and Dan Christian.